What Is A Bourse Only Stamp Show?

Hello,
I have noticed some stamp shows list "bourse only."
Could someone explain what that is? Is it just dealers or a group of collectors?
I have only been to one stamp show. I was much younger and my father was the stamp collector then. I now I am collecting stamps. I am intrigued by the differences from one stamp to another.
What should I expect when I walk into a bourse only stamp show?
Thank you for your time.

It means there is only buying and selling. No club activities, no exhibition frames.

Yes, bourse means buying and selling show, without any of the extras. I understand this to mean there are no exhibits, dinners, lectures, field trips, or meetings. However, I feel certain I'll be corrected by others with slightly different experiences.

shermae and bookbndrbob,
Thanks for your replies.
Have either of you been to a bourse.?
Which stamp show do you prefer?
Thanks for your time.

Given the choice, I'd much rather be at a show with exhibits; better still if there are some society meetings or presentations.

I'm an experienced exhibitor and an apprentice judge so I particularly enjoy the exhibits, but at a minimum it's another thing to do at the show and I think shows with exhibits and meetings provide more opportunity for social interactions with other collectors.

I get irked at 'bourse only' shows which charge admission.
Don

It seems counter-intuitive, but I suppose they form a judgment based on the desirability of defraying costs and the likely deterrent to customers. I imagine that the view is that those generally interested will be happy to pay a small sum, whilst those sheltering from the rain will be discouraged.

Charging admission to a stamp show seems like the dumbest idea. People work hard to get collectors just to attend shows. Making them pay would kill the hobby in our area I think.

In France it could be a store or an outdoor market place for stamps.
http://www.boursedutimbre.com/
https://vide-greniers.org/Ile-de-Fr...lectionneurs
Sad for this dealer that is ordered by the city to modernize his
shop,fire regulations,re doing the whole interior ect.. he will move
out.The modern regulations are killing any type of small business.
I hate this modern world!!
https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/soc...s-1492010176

Strictly speaking, a bourse isn't a show at all, it is a marketplace.

Only one show in my area charges a fee, $5 and they usually send out a $1 off coupon. So, I'm only paying $4 per year to attend about 3-4 shows a year.

I don't like show admission either, but it's very rare to see any kind of show in any other hobby that does not have an admission charge. Rock and mineral shows, coin shows, train shows, doll shows, you name it - they all charge admission. And people still go....

I never mind paying admission to any kind of show which has exhibits and seminars. I understand the purpose/objective of a hobby show; it is to promote the hobby, offer educational opportunities, and reward those which invest in their areas of expertise. On the other hand, it seems to me that the purpose/objective of a bourse is simply to provide a marketplace for hobbyists and sellers. A bourse made more sense in pre-internet days when pulling a together a large diversity of sellers and materials added significant value. But in this day and age a bourse-only event seems to be trying to directly compete with the internet and adding an admission fee on top of this does not seem logical. I suspect that many of us simply pay the bourse-only admission and look at it as a donation to support the club. But this hardly seems like a viable long-term approach.
Don

With high costs of a venue, admission is a small cost that helps defray expenses (rental, insurance, etc.) .. .No one is making money. And the previous is correct in that many hobby shows charge an admission - toys, postcards, dolls, gems and minerals, antiques. And some charge admission and only allow "members."

A small fee at the door helps keep out the HOMELESS crowd . Around Chicago many bourses in years past we try leaving it to the gatekeeper if it was a collector type they got a pass ,if it was a group of tourist or a baseball team staying at the same hotel then we collected or at least told them there was a fee to enter . The older women at the gate knew who was who .

I tend to avoid the shows that charge an admission. Because it is often I take my family there and things multiply.

A recent train show charged $20. Combined with the travel and entry fees, it is about $75 before I even started !...

So it was voted out. I went out to stamp show last week and spent the $75 there instead !

Thankfully, the bourses in my area are still free for admission.